The Manhattan Project. The
Space Race. Each
of these is an icon. The first, of course, speaks of the scientific genius,
the fevered rush against a fast-ticking clock, and the cloak of secrecy
needed to successfully develop an atomic bomb and thus bring an end to World
War II. The second conjures images of President Kennedy admonishing us early
in the ’60s to take the lead in exploring the next great frontier and,
thus inspired, launching ourselves on a journey that would culminate by
decade’s end in man, and mankind, paying a visit to Earth’s next-door
neighbor, the moon.

These iconic phrases prove at least a
couple of important points, one of which is that words have tremendous
positive power — to inform, to educate, to entertain, to inspire, to
question, to change individuals and groups, to create movements, and indeed
to create whole nations.

Both phrases have literally become
shorthand for great successes achieved under excruciating deadlines against
heavy odds. This, of course, proves another point — that when we, as
Americans, commit ourselves in unity to a goal, and fully unleash our
creativity, our talents and our resources, there is virtually nothing that
we cannot accomplish.

Which is wonderful, since we desperately
need a “Space Race” to find solutions to the daunting array of energy
challenges that face us. In short, we must develop and support a
“Manhattan Project” to build a comprehensive energy policy.

On this page in the June and July
issues, we outlined for you a campaign developed by electric cooperatives
across the country to help do just that. Dubbed “Our Energy, Our
Future,” this campaign by our nation’s 900-plus electric cooperatives
asks for political action from the 40 million Americans who receive their
electricity from a consumer-owned electric cooperative. In short, by
visiting www.ourenergy.coop and sending an e-mail message to your federal
representatives, you and your fellow cooperative members CAN make a
difference.

And difference-makers are what our
nation needs, as we look at unprecedented increases in the cost of the fuels
that power our vehicles and our electric-generating stations; at growing
concerns about climate change; at the need to focus more effort on
conservation of resources; and at increases in demand for electricity and
increases in the lead time needed to provide it. Perhaps never has it been
more challenging for electric utilities to provide reliable, affordable
power in an environmentally responsible manner. Yet
doing precisely that is what electric cooperatives are all about. It’s our
calling, our mission, and our evergreen, never-ending goal.

You can help by visiting
www.ourenergy.coop, and taking part in the “Our Energy, Our Future”
campaign, which revolves around asking cooperative member-consumers like you
to make your voices heard. The Web site allows you to ask critically
important questions to your three representatives in Congress: your House
member, and Senators John Warner and Jim Webb. Last month’s question
related to our nation’s growing electricity needs and what Congress plans
to do to help address them. Next month’s third and final question will
focus on affordability.

This month’s question focuses on
technology. Please help your family, your community, your cooperative and
all of us by visiting the Web site (www.ourenergy.coop) and posing to your
elected representatives in Congress this second question: “Our
country faces a crisis as electricity use increases faster than available
supply. I believe that by unleashing American ingenuity we can solve this
problem. What are you doing to speed the development of new technology that
will allow me to have the electric power I need while meeting our national
climate policy goals?”

In order to establish our own
“Manhattan Project” and craft a true national energy policy (an
“Energy Synergy” project, if you will), electric consumers like you and
me must speak loudly, clearly and firmly and insist that our elected leaders
address these questions, these needs, and these imperatives NOW.

Please visit www.ourenergy.coop for more
information and to share your concerns with your representatives in
Congress. The challenges that face us are considerable, but certainly
no greater than those faced, and through unity and determination solved, by
previous generations. We cannot afford to do any less.